Commercialism, in its original meaning, is the practices, methods, aims, and spirit of commerce or business. Today, however, it primarily refers to the tendency within capitalism to turn everything into objects and services sold for the purpose of generating profit. There is also a tendency for intangible things such as happiness, beauty, or health to be given a monetary value or to be spoken of as commodities.

Commercialism can also refer to the domination of things by business/corporate interests, or the exploitation of intangible things for private gain.

Commercialism is often closely associated with the corporate world and advertising and is mainly due to increses in technology

The related term "commercialized" is often used in an accusing way, implying that someone or something has been despoiled by commercial or monetary interests.

See also

• Laissez-faire
• Corporation
• Productivism
• Free market
• Economic materialism
• Consumerism
• Over-consumption
• Consumption
• List of things which are neither production nor consumption
• Post-materialism

External links

• Commercial Alert, a nonprofit organization that opposes commercialism